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Traveling with your credit card

March 21, 2013
| Alliant Credit Union

Before you hit the road for a big vacation, be sure to take proper precautions so your credit and debit cards are safe while you travel. Here are some tips:

Tell us where you're going and how long you'll be gone. At Alliant, we like to know when you will be traveling out of your normal radius of spending. Your cards track where you most frequently spend money and will send an alert if any suspicious activity is noticed.

For example, if you live and work around Chicagoland but travel to Florida for a two week vacation and rent a boat, Alliant wouldn't know that boat rental was necessarily your charge. By giving us a call ahead of time, we can make a note in your account for when you are planning to travel, where and how long you will be gone. This way charges made in that area and time period will go through without a hitch.

Keep contact information current. All cards have this safety feature to prevent fraud, so keeping your contact information current is extremely important, especially if you are traveling. Verify with us that your cell phone is the primary contact number for you, since it is most likely the best way to reach you when you are traveling. An automated call will occur if your card has been flagged and will leave a voice mail to alert you.

For international travel, leave a the number of a close friend or relative. If you are traveling out of the country, you may not know your phone number or the best way to reach you if your account is flagged. If you have a close friend or relative you trust to receive alert calls, leave their phone number with us while you travel overseas. This way, your friend or relative who knows your itinerary can reach out to you if your account is flagged.

Keep safety in mind. For safety reasons, it is best to always use ATMs at financial institutions when traveling as well as being aware of your surroundings.

Alliant Credit Union, Chicago, Illinois. Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government - National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), a U.S. Government Agency.

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